Cool Old Tools

[Jeepergeo]

^^^Bent wrenches.

My dad was a mechanic and his 60 year old Craftsman rolling cabinet box held all sorts of "specialty" tools my dad had made by modifying conventional tools.

He had wrenches bent into strange angles or shortened. One I particularly like is a test light he fashioned by grinding the tip of a screwdriver, drilling a hole long ways through the handle, running a wire through the handle, then soldering a lamp to the driver shaft and connecting thr wire. On the other end of the wire he added a spring clip. That garage-made test light has been in my tool box for years and has helped trouble shoot numerous electrical problems.

I'd never get rid of any if his customized tools, even those I have not figured out what they were customized to do.

[enuf]

I used to have a big router table set up in my shop, but I used it so infrequently, I broke it down to make room for other clutter. I still have need for a router table from time to time, so I was thinking about buying a table top model, but hadn't pulled the trigger yet. Then a few weeks back, I was at the flea market with my son, and I spotted this. The guy wanted $10 for it, so I couldn't pass it up. I think I even have a PC router that will fit in there, and I was thinking about re-working the fence from the big table model I still have tucked away.

Oh well, I'm sure I'll get around to it when I have time....

PCRT.jpg

I have one - works just fine.

[glennbad]

I used to have a big router table set up in my shop, but I used it so infrequently, I broke it down to make room for other clutter. I still have need for a router table from time to time, so I was thinking about buying a table top model, but hadn't pulled the trigger yet. Then a few weeks back, I was at the flea market with my son, and I spotted this. The guy wanted $10 for it, so I couldn't pass it up. I think I even have a PC router that will fit in there, and I was thinking about re-working the fence from the big table model I still have tucked away.

Oh well, I'm sure I'll get around to it when I have time....

PCRT.jpg

I have one - works just fine.

Good to know, thanks!

[Unk]

There was a garage / tool sale in the neighborhood across from me this morning. I ran over and found these two items - spent a whopping $6.

A hand drill - it says "Made in the USA", but no other markings. Seems to resemble a Fulton or Dunlap. It had a few bits in the handle.

I also found a little detail scraper. It is made by PEXTO, and also marked "BELL SYSTEM". I didn't see the markings until I got it home a hit is with a wire brush. I was happy to see the Bell System marking. I have a few other Bell System tools - my mom worked for Southwestern Bell for 30+ years, as did my sister and her husband. The scraper has a little leather scabbard - I assume it is original? I will need to clean it up with some saddle soap and some Obenauf's. Also, based on some pics from the internet, these are supposed to have a wooden handle - so I guess I will turn one on the lathe (some day ).

[eveled]

I collect Estwing hammers and hatchets, this one is really neat.

It is a 28 ounce framing hammer instead of a claw, it has the chisel of a masonry hammer. It has a teardrop nail puller. AFAIK, it is a concrete form hammer. The teardrop is designed for those double headed nail used on forms.

[eveled]

I’ve filled a few gaps lately so some are old, some are new.

These are my straight claw hammers 12, to 30 ounces.

[eveled]

A riggers axe, 2 different size hatchets, (the smaller one is discontinued) 2 different sizes of shinglers hatchets.

[eveled]

Masonry hammers, the 12 oz one is often called a tile setter, it is discontinued

2 tinners hammers and a weld chipper

[Unk]

Nice Estwings, Eveled.

I had been looking for one at the estates sales for a couple of years. Finally found a Estwing framing hammer last year.

[eveled]

Thanks. A couple more groups.

BALL PEIN

GEOLOGY PICKS

[Unk]

Very nice collection, Eveled.

You inspired me to take an inventory of my hammers. I only have a couple of Estwings - a 22 oz framing hammer and a plastic mallet.

The big ball peen hammer on the left is a Vaughn - I made a the replacement handle from some Ash from my place.

In the pic of the mallets - I made the two on the left.

I have a couple of tack hammers - but I honestly am not sure if I have ever used one in my life.

The 3 most used hammers in my shop (by a large margin) are the Stanley Fat Max Anti-vibe claw hammer, the big Vaughn ball peen hammer, and the wooden mallet I made from Ash.

[eveled]

Nice collection! Great pictures.

[Unk]

A few items from the latest Estate sale. My sister works for an estate sale company, and lets me know if it is a tool-rich environment. They usually have a pre-sale, so I get first picks, although not always at the best prices.

The Brown & Sharpe combination square was a good buy. These are on par with a Starrett.

[FRJ]

A few items from the latest Estate sale.

A very nice collection of tools, Mike.
However, I don't know what "bench cookies" are.
Please enlighten me.

[Unk]

Hi Joe, Thanks

The bench cookies are plastic pucks with neoprene rubber on both sides. They keep the boards you are working on from sliding around. Here's a video showing how they work:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcvxQG6hYi0[/youtube]

[FRJ]

Thank you, Mike.

Interesting.

[Ridgegrass]

Found these today for 50 cents. Clauss, Fremont, Ohio. We all like their old pocket knives and they had a good selection of hardware. No foreign markings on these. US made? J.O'.

[bighomer]

Thank you, Mike.

Interesting.

Thanks for asking Joe. I never seen nor heard on any that I know of.

[Unk]

Some of my adjustable wrenches - from 2 inches up to a couple of 15 inchers. All are made in the USA except the little 2 inch one. I have had the 8 inch Diamond Calk Horseshoe one for many years. It came from my grandfather, and my dad gave it to me sometime around 1980. I think it dates to around WWII. I have removed many, many oil drain plugs with it.

I recently bought some old Crescent brand wrenches from e-bay. These are very old, and made in Jamestown, NY. Pre-WWII, from what I can tell. The quality on them is amazing - so much better than newer adjustable wrenches. They are significantly thicker, heavier, have less slop / play in the mechanism, etc. than any of my other brands.

A few notes:
1. When I was a kid, we always called these a "Crescent Wrench", even though I don't think my dad ever owned a "Crescent" branded one. Most of the ones I inherited from him are Craftsman branded.
2. I always heard that a "real" mechanic doesn't use an adjustable wrench because they have a tendency to round off the nuts - which is probably true. However, I also don't know anyone - mechanic or otherwise - who doesn't have a few.
3. We had a couple of "Diamond Calk Horseshoe" branded ones when I was a kid. I was always confused by the "Calk" in their name (did they mean caulk?), until I recently saw one of their old advertisements. The "calk" is a cleat on the horseshoe to keep the horses from slipping on ice and snow (the company was based in Duluth, MN). We don't see too many of those horseshoe cleats down in Texas.

[GSPTOPDOG]

I collect Estwing hammers and hatchets, this one is really neat.

[GSPTOPDOG]

Some old stuff laying around....

[TripleF]

Cool tools fellas!!!! I should post more in here.....
We'll start with this LF&C UNIVERSAL Putty knife I restored....

[Unk]

Very nice old Estwing hatchets and blower, Topdog!

Scott, very nice old putty knife. I have a couple of old "made in the USA" putty knives. Such simple tools - I just like using old vintage stuff whenever I can. All my old tools are "users"

[ThatWeirdKnifeGuy]

Found this printer's drawer at an estate sale I stopped in at while I was out on my pizza route. Its bigger than others I've seen. I believe I'm going to hang it for a wall display, but I might also set it up as a mobile table top knife display.

The little sections could be difficult to fill for a wall display though, even for a guy who likes little knives.

[Waukonda]

Found this printer's drawer at an estate sale I stopped in at while I was out on my pizza route. Its bigger than others I've seen. I believe I'm going to hang it for a wall display, but I might also set it up as a mobile table top knife display.

The little sections could be difficult to fill for a wall display though, even for a guy who likes little knives.

Nice purchase